Kanonkop Pinotage 2018, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa

Kanonkop Estate is situated on the lower slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain in the Stellenbosch Region of the Cape and confidently boasts with some of South Africa’s most premium wines. The vineyards range between 197 and 395 feet above sea level. The majority of the vineyards are situated on southwest-facing slopes. The soils are predominantly red decomposed granite with a high clay content and excellent water retentioin capacity. Kanonkop’s Pinotage vines were some of the first to be established commercially in the Cape, and they range up to 63 years of age. The grapes are hand harvested and hand sorted. Fermented in open top concrete vats over a period of 3 days, with manual punch downs of the cap every 2 hours. The wine was then run to 25 liter French oak barrels (75% new, 25% second fill) for malolactic fermentation and aging. Aged in barrel 18 months and bottled without fining or filtration. Alluringly complex and distinctive, it boasts bold flavors of plum and red berries with notes of dark chocolate, vanilla and aromatic spice.